Puzzle



Patented Jan. 3, I899.

J. W. STURGES.

P U Z Z L E'.

{Application filed Nov. 17.

(No Model.)

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JAMES \V. STURGES, OF BOGOTA, NEXV JERSEY.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,060, dated January 3, 1899'.

Application filed Novemberl'7, 1898. Serial No. 696,676. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JAMES WALLACE STUR- GES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bogota, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the 531119.

This invention relates to puzzles; and the object thereof is to provide an improved device of this class which is simple in construction and the solution of which is difiic-ult, but may be easily accomplished when the method thereof is understood.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved puzzle; Fig. 2, a section thereof on the line 2 2, the puzzle being inverted; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the method of the solution.

In the practice of my invention I provide a rectangular block 5, which is preferably square in form, but which may be of any desired shape, and said block consists of two separate similar parts 6, which are both preferably rectangular and oblong in form and which when connected as hereinafter described form the square block 5. The said block 5 need not, however, be square, as an octagonal, circular, or other form may be given thereto, all that is necessary in this connection being that the separate blocks 6 be connected and operate as hereinafter described.

The bottoms of the separate blocks 6 are connected by a flexible strip 7 of canvas, cloth, leather, or any suitable material, which may be glued or otherwise secured thereto,

and passed entirely around the sides and ends of the block 6, so as to inclose said sides and ends, is a strip 8 of flexible and elastic material, which is preferably composed of canvas and rubber, or rubber alone, or any suitable flexible and elastic material. The tops of the blocks 6 are also covered by a flexible and elastic strip or sheet 9, which may be composed of rubber, rubber and canvas, or other suitable material, and the strips or sheets 8 and 9 are secured to the blocks 6 by gluing the same thereto or in any other de* sired manner. When the blocks 6 are thus secured together and covered, the division line between the same is entirely concealed and the entire device seems to be composed of a single block.

Secured in the top of the blocks 6 and centrally thereof and forming a square space 10 are four headed pins 11, and placed in said space 10 is a spherical ball or body 12, which is held between said pins by the heads thereof, and the solution of the puzzle consists in detaching said ball or body from the space in which it is placed. This is a most simple operation when one understands the construction of the device, and the said ball or body may be returned to the space between the pins 11 by simply reversing the operation by which it is removed therefrom. By grasping the blocks 6 firmly and applying pressure thereto they may be separated at the top, as

shown in Fig. 3, and the ball or body l2 will drop out, and said ball or body may be returned to the space between the pins 11 by again separating the upper portions of the blocks 6. It will be understood that the elas= tic sheet 8 which covers the tops of the blocks 6 holds said blocks normally in the position shown in Fig. 2, and after the pressure applied to the blocks to separate them, as shown in Fig. 3, is released the said sheet 8 returns the blocks to their normal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

This device is simple in construction and operation and is perfectly adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and

1. A puzzle, comprising two separate simi-' lar blocks connected at one side by a flexible strip or sheet secured thereto, and at the opposite side by a flexible and elastic strip or sheet which is secured thereto, said blocks being also provided each with two headed pins which are secured to said blocks or the sides thereof which are con nected by the flexible and elastic strip or sheet so as to form a central space, and a spherical ball or body which is adapted to be placed between said pins or within said space, substantially as shown and described.

2. A puzzle, comprising two similar blocks connected at one side by a flexible strip or sheet which is secured thereto, said blocks being also connected at the opposite side by a flexible and elastic strip or sheet which is secured thereto, and by a flexible and elastic strip which is passed entirely around the sides and ends of said blocks, and said blocks being also provided in the side thereof to which the flexible and elastic strip is secured, each with two headed pins, said headed pins forming together a rectangular space and a JAMES \V. STURGES.

Vitnesses:

F. A. STEWART, C. O. OLSEN. 

